Restaurateur's Mid-Life Career Change Pans Out

You can't always bank on a change of career at age 43.

But Bill Brusca's leap of faith turned out to be a major success and gave the area a longtime, favorite restaurant, .

“I was in banking for 21 years before (La Fontana),” he explained. “But they were downsizing in 1995.”

So, the St. Joe's graduate had to decide whether to move from the area or find something new. His father introduced him to Sal Carratta, who owned a restaurant now called Buono Via Ristorante on Horsham Road and had just bought another restaurant building at 60 South York Road in Hatboro.

“He didn't want to do it alone,” Brusca said. “I said to him 'I'm an accountant. I can handle the back but I don't know the front.' He said, 'I'll teach you,' and he did. He stayed here for a year, and we talk every day.”

Brusca's second career was certainly different.

“You have to put a lot of time into it, dealing with a lot of different types of people – chefs, servers customers, hostesses,” he said. “My management training at the bank (Corestates) helped.”

“It's rewarding but also challenging. It takes a tremendous amount of time. You've got to be hands-on.”

While he doesn't have a lot of spare time, the Horsham resident does have a hobby – working on antique clocks.

“I inherited a clock from my grandparents. I inherited it as a kid, it wasn't working and I wanted to get it working,” he said.

So, he took the clock to , which is across the street from the restaurant he co-owns.

“I went over there for lunch seven or eight years and they showed me. I'm learning,” he said.

Brusca also is learning how to deal with the recession as a restauranteur.

“We're trying to listen to what customers want,” he said. “We're doing lots of things to draw people.”

Those things include Sunday brunch, “value-priced menus,” discounted gift certificates, a DJ on Fridays nights; happy hours, TV advertising and a new Web site.

“It seems to be working," he said. "I think we just have to hang in there a little bit more.”

The 59-year-old divorced father of two employs the equivalent of 20 full-time employees, and that includes his son, Marc.

For his efforts, Brusca has won the Service in Business Award from the Greater Hatboro Chamber of Commerce. Brusca has served as a chamber board member for about a dozen years. The award is given for distinguished service that has enhanced the quality of business in the Greater Hatboro area.

“I'm really appreciative of it, but I really don't like awards,” he said. “I'm just doing my job and I'm just happy to be part of the Hatboro community. Everybody's been very cooperative and helpful ... If what I do helps the town, then I'm very excited that's happening.”

Bill Brusca is one of four individuals who will receive awards during the Greater Hatboro Chamber of Commerce's Biennial Boro Ball on Saturday. Hatboro-Horsham Patch will be featuring articles on each of the honorees leading up to the Ball.